Radiation-controlled filter with photoconductor means and feedback thereto

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclose an adjustable filter (cf voltage-controlled bandwidth) having photoconductors whose resistance is adjusted by variable-intensity radiation source means, with a related feedback loop to compensate for thermal changes.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/367,404, filed Jun.15, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,084.

This invention relates to filter circuits and particularly those of theanalog, voltage-controllable-bandwidth type.

BACKGROUND, FEATURE OF INVENTION

In the past, workers adjusted a (low-pass) filter bandwidth bydiscretely switching resistor values; e.g. with digitally controlledswitches. Alternatively, one could use a digital filter arrangement;however, this method required switchable clock frequencies.

Workers are aware that it would be advantageous to better control thebandwidth of a low-pass filter, especially if this could be done incontinuous fashion over several decades of frequency; e.g. a range of100 Hz to 10 KHz would be very useful.

Thus, a feature of this invention is to provide techniques forcontrolling a low-pass filter's bandwidth--more particularly to usephotoconductive means as variable filter impedance means, and to setresistor values by controlling radiation intensity illuminating thephotoconductive elements.

And an added feature is to provide an associated matchedvoltage-controlled radiation source. The output radiation intensity ofsuch a source may be controlled according to a variable input controlvoltage--this control voltage thus acting to set the bandwidth of thefilter.

A related feature is to provide such in a circuit array including a"control loop" which compensates for temperature variation of the lightsource particularly when the control loop comprises a source regulatedvoltage and a photoconductor optically linked to the mentioned radiationsource so as to be stimulated thereby--to thereby modulate the "controlvoltage" so as to compensate for temperature variations: Thus, a"temperature-compensating control loop".

In a particular preferred embodiment, a pair of photoconductors are usedto set the bandwidth of a two-pole active filter which is responsive tolight output from an LED source. The LED source is, in turn, controlledby a control voltage source, CVS. In the CVS, the control voltage isselected to give the prescribed LED output and to consequently adjustthe resistance of the photoconductors used in the filter. Preferably,this LED also irradiates a third "reference" photoconductor which isarranged in a feedback control loop to compensate for anytemperature-induced output variation in the LED.

Thus, it is an object to address at least some of these concerns andteach ways of ameliorating them. A particular object is to teach the useof photoconductors as variable impedance means in a filter circuit,these being impedance-adjusted by variable illumination means, this, inconjunction with a control loop to compensate for thermal variations. Arelated object is to do this to yield an analog, voltage-controllablebandwidth, two-pole, active, low-pass filter wherein the bandwidth maybe continuously controlled, and varied, over more than two decades offrequency, simply by adjusting a control voltage--using appropriatephotoconductors for the filter resistors, and preferably also using astabilizing photoconductor means in a temperature-compensating feedbackloop. A related object is to provide this as part of acontinuously-variable, data-aided demodulator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will beappreciated by workers as they become better understood by reference tothe following detailed description of the present preferred embodimentswhich should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing:

The Figure simplified schematic circuit diagram of one preferredembodiment:

The invention will be better appreciated by workers upon considerationof the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General description, background

The embodiment illustrates a filter circuit particularly adapted for usewith a continuously-variable, data-aided demodulator.

This, and other means discussed herein, will generally be understood asselected, formulated, and operating as presently known in the art,except where otherwise specified. And, except as otherwise specified,all materials, methods, and devices and apparatus herein will beunderstood as implemented by known expedients according to present goodpractice.

The figure shows a preferred embodiment: a voltage-controllable,two-pole, low-pass filter wherein two such photoconductors are used toprovide a prescribed active low-pass filter between the indicated Inputand Output terminals.

These photo-conductors, PC1 and PC2, are intended to vary theirresistance in response to the level of a certain related source offilter-control-voltage, V_(fc). Source V_(fc) is fed to a light-emittingdiode (LED), optically coupled to photoconductors PC1 and PC2. Theresult is that a given voltage level at Source V_(fc) will cause a givenlight output from the LED and so induce a given resistance level in PC1and PC2 as known in the art. Thus, PC1, PC2, and the LED are housed inan appropriate optically-isolated container (indicated by the dottedlines) as known in the art.

Preferably, the filter characteristics produced are a function of R (theresistance of PC1 and PC2 are each R) and the capacitors used (C1 andC2) as workers will recognize. The transfer function is listed in thefigure.

Workers will recognize that this embodiment may be varied to use asingle photo-conductor in combination with a single capacitor to make acontinuous, voltage-controlled, passive, "single-pole filter". Twophotoconductors are necessary in the given configuration, since one mustbe used with a feedback control circuit.

Enhancement for Error Compensation:

Preferably, the configuration displayed in the figure is optimized toinclude an optical feedback arrangement adapted to compensate forvariations in LED output, induced by temperature change or like sourcesof error. Thus, as indicated in the figure, this may be implemented in afeedback loop, optically coupling a third (stabilizing) photoconductor,PC3, to the LED (enclosed in the same optical container) and providingan appropriate related reference voltage source and related circuitry tocompensate for such changes.

A temperature-stable, reference voltage, V_(R), is amplified by anoperational amplifier (OP2). The output of OP2, (V_(OP2)) is a functionof R (the resistance of PC3), R₁, and V_(R) ;

    V.sub.OP2 =-(R/R.sub.1)*V.sub.R.

The operational amplifier OP1 amplifies and averages an error voltage(V_(FC) -V_(OP2)). The amplified and averaged output, V_(OP1), adjuststhe current into the LED (I_(LED) =V_(OP1) /R4).

The intensity of light out of the LED is roughly proportional to thecurrent through the LED; the resistances of PC1, PC2, and PC3 arefunction of light intensity. Therefore, the feedback control loop isclosed. Since the error voltage is minimized by V_(OP1), the resistanceof PC3 (and consequently PC1 and PC2) goes to whatever value necessaryto make V_(OP2) approximate V_(FC). The result is that, as V_(FC) ischanged, the resistance of PC1, PC2, and PC3 are linearly scaled.

In effect, the third (stabilizing) photoconductor, PC3, will give atemperature-stable light output from the LED and so providetemperature-stability for the photoconductors used (PC1, PC2) in thetwo-pole, low-pass filter. The end result is a temperature-insensitivefilter.

Results

Thus, the resistance of one or several filter photo-conductors can beradiation-controlled via a variable radiation-source, this source beingcontrolled by a prescribed variable control voltage; e.g. to enable thecircuit to change filter bandwidth by factors of 100 to 1000. Suchcircuit can be advantageously used in a "continuously-variable, BPSK,data-aided demodulator", as workers will appreciate.

The preferred components in FIG. 1 are as follows:

PC1, PC2, PC3: Cadmium Sulfide Cells

LED: Any LED to which the Cadmium Sulfide Cells will react

OP1, OP2, OP3: Any standard Op-Amps

V_(R), V_(FC) : Created from temperature insensitive regulators.

Thus, it will be seen that the described embodiment provides an analogvoltage-controlled bandwidth, two-pole, active, low-pass filter whereinthe bandwidth may be continuously controlled, and varied, over more thantwo decades of frequency, simply by adjusting a control voltage--usingappropriate photoconductors for the filter resistors and preferably alsousing a stabilizing photoconductor means in a temperature-compensatingfeedback loop, to thereby offset temperature-induced variances.

Conclusion

It will be understood that the preferred embodiments described hereinare only exemplary, and that the invention is capable of manymodifications and variations in construction, arrangement and usewithout departing from the spirit of what is claimed.

For example, the means and methods disclosed herein are also applicablefor other related filters. Also, the invention is applicable forproviding filter means for other communication systems, as workers willrealize.

The above examples of possible variations of the present invention aremerely illustrative. Accordingly, the present invention is to beconsidered as including all possible modifications and variations comingwithin the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of arranging a variable-bandwidth filtercircuit to be adjustable according to radiation-output from a prescribedradiation source means, this method comprising:providing said Sourcemeans arranged and adapted to exhibit variable radiation levels;providing Photoconductor means, as filter resistor means whoseresistance is controllable to yield said bandwidth variation accordingto said radiation levels, the Photoconductor means being opticallycoupled to said Source means.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidSource means is controlled by a prescribed Control Voltage means to sovary its intensity.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said Sourcemeans comprises LED means and said Control-Voltage means is tocompensate for ambient Error Conditions.
 4. An adjustable filterdemodulator arrangement including a photoconductor stage whoseresistance is variable with received radiation intensity;variable-intensity radiation source means for providing such radiationof intensity apt for so varying the resistance of said photoconductorstage; filter input means arranged and adapted to apply prescribedsignals to said photoconductor stage; filter output means arranged andadapted to accept said signals filtered by said stage and present themto utilization means, an optical feedback arrangement adapted tocompensate for variations in the radiation of the source means; saidsource means including LED means which is optically coupled to saidphotoconductor means, as well as to other compensatory photoconductormeans in a feedback loop adapted to so adjust the output of the LEDmeans; andan appropriate related reference voltage stage included to soadjust the LED output and thus regulate filter resistance despite sucherror conditions; this reference voltage stage including operationalamplifier means arranged and adapted to amplify, and average, an errorvoltage applied to adjust current to the LED, with the compensatoryphotoconductor means thus regulating the LED to provide atemperature-stable light output for said photoconductor stage; thecharacteristics of said recited elements being arranged to yield afilter whose bandwidth is temperature stable, and is adjustable by 100×to 1000×.
 5. An adjustable filter arrangement comprising aphoto-conductor stage for responding to variable radiation source meansand related continuously-variable photo-conductor means for yielding abandwidth variation according to radiation output levels forautomatically correcting the output of said radiation source means inresponse to prescribed error conditions, being coupled therewith infeedback relation.
 6. A continuously-variable data-aided demodulatorincluding an adjustable filter arrangement comprising a photo-conductorstage for responding to radiation source means and relatedcontinuously-variable photo-conductor means for yielding a bandwidthvariation according to radiation output levels for automaticallycorrecting the output of said radiation source means in response toprescribed error condition, being coupled therewith in feedbackrelation.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the filter arrangementbandwidth is temperature-stable and is adjustable by 100× to 1000×.